The Curlytops at Silver Lake

en he smiled he had a very pleasant face-in fact, he had a very pl

which has been so kind to me," he said. "But I'm sorry

as not strange, as many persons, seeing Ted and Jan for the first t

d Janet softly. "You look exactly as i

ed, and his laugh was a pleasant one and ca

on, "is Benjamin Wilson," and he looked at Mr. and Mrs. Martin. "Some years ago my sister, who lived in New York, h

m, and ran to the strange man-no, I must not call him a stranger any longer. I must use his name-Mr. Wil

you!" h

of that. And I like yo

with a new thought, "coul

oked at Mr. a

cture is in our photograph album, is my uncle, but they always claim him as their own. He does look a great deal like you. His

," declared Jan. "Can't

r a moment. Then, looking at

at, if the children want to, they may call me Uncle Ben. But it will

for a number of years, until he lost his health. Then he had to get something else to do. But he did not get better, his

r told me that if I could live out of doors for six months I would get well and strong again. But the only kind of life out of doors is th

uch to eat, and when I reached your house I was weak and I just couldn't go any fur

istening to this story. "You fell down, and Miss Ransom

said Mr. Wilson. "But I cannot stay here. I must travel on and see if

Ben?" asked Jan, when the man h

he is Uncle Ben still, and though he isn't the same Uncle Ben you know down in

ncle Ben?" asked Ted, now

and once I was shipwrecked. Then I was taken ill and found a sailor's life too hard for m

d she didn't ever see him again, and he left her a funny box that nobody except two or three could open, but

laimed Mr. Wilson, with a laugh. "And who is this

what had happened and how the

aylor and I were thinking maybe we could catch the robbers if Constable Juke didn't

n shook

All I wanted was to get to a place where I could lie down and rest, and then have something to eat, p

d Mrs. Martin to Ted and Jan, who were crowded as close as they could

at his name?" a

you rest. Please stay here as long as you like, and you must not go until we have had another talk. I m

rk. I don't like being a tramp. And I want to be a real U

Trouble again. "You

o, I will," was t

at settled it. And not until then did

n, isn't it?" asked Ted of Jan

lied. "I hope he'll s

rs and get back Miss Ransom's queer box,"

aid Janet. "But course I want Miss Ransom to ge

"Oh, Jan!" he cried. "I just thought o

ey did!"

ll Constable Juk

e boy had a chance to go to the constable about the lost dog. For Skyrocket continued to be lost. Though Ted and Janet hunted all over town

things happened at the same time that they did not grieve as othe

about where we are going for ou

t Silver Lake?"

to tell you this evening. Now, Jan, will you run over to Mrs. Kent's, and ask her if she can let me have the spool of strong, black

"Will Uncle Ben come out

. Whitney said he must not go too fast all at once.

" cried

e fun!" ex

ry door. He proved to be a good man, and Mr. Martin was sure he was one who could be trusted. He was slowly getting better, and could walk around the house now an

Janet goes for the thread for

uble. We'll go down to the brook and I'll show you

had poured some sour cream. Inside the barrel was a round piece of wood, called a "dasher," and fastened to this was a long stick, li

o look in to see how near the butte

get the thread for you," said Mrs

hurn, to see if there were any little round balls of yellow b

e a sudden cry and hurried back to her chair. She had hardly sa

d how is every one over at your hou

irl. "He's getting better, and we're all well. And say, Mrs. Kent, when

Gracious me, child! what do you m

sisted Jan, with a

dear, I

," said Janet. "Sh

he bu

ou left the cover off, and I looked in to see if the butter had co

over, which Janet had put partly b

he is! O

doll, you know, and water or milk, or even butter, won't hur

," SAID JANET EASILY.

drop a-a rubber doll in

ained Janet. "I washed her nice jus

it and I'll fish her out for you, Janet. I guess my butter won

won't hurt her a bit. And a lady once told my mamma that

and given back to Janet, who tucked her under one

father to come home that night, for t

on his knees and Trouble was seated in Uncle Ben's lap, "we will s

ave a tent?

oat?" as

rouble wanted to kn

e tent when it doesn't rain. We'll also have a boat, for Silver Lake is a fine place for them. And there will be lots of

was! But Daddy and Mother Martin, with the help of Patrick and Nora, managed to get things in shape finally. The automobile was

ad Skyrocket!

here we are and come to

the porch, holdin

beard, whom they had learned to like ve

n coming with us?"

mer at Silver Lake. He is to have charge of the boats there, for I own quite a number, and also a pavilion and a soda-water

thank you, Mr. Martin. And I am delighted to spend the summer with the Cu

Silver Lake!"

cle Ben. Then, just as they reached a tur

nute! Wait

n stopped

in, looking around. "He is waving at

glars and got back Miss Ranso

found Skyrocke

ytops waited for him in the automobile,